DCPXEP CHAPTER 113

Your Daughter-in-Law

“There is no need for concern. His Majesty understands Prince Li’s temperament. Even if he detects the letter is forged, nothing may be questioned out of him nor may it be traced to Yuan-Yuan,” Nie Chouwen said, his tone steady.

Nie Siran poured a cup of cooled tea for Jiang Ni. “Ah-Die may rest assured. Though Prince Li is somewhat unrestrained, he would not treat Ah-Yuan’s life as a jest.”

“That may not be so,” Jiang Ni refuted.

Nie Siran pushed the tea toward him and smiled slowly. “Before Ah-Die returned to the capital, your son had already observed Prince Li on your behalf. He may be counted barely acceptable.”

“Your son had originally thought that if he treated Ah-Yuan poorly, I would take Ah-Yuan back and make him your daughter-in-law.”

Chu Yuan: “?”

Nie Xuxing laughed loudly and clapped his hands. “Good. As expected of my son.”

The anger on Jiang Ni’s face was dispersed by these words. He could not hold back his smile. After laughing, he lifted the cooled tea and drank a large mouthful.

“Now that you mention it, if Yuan-Yuan could become my daughter-in-law, it would seem quite good as well.” Jiang Ni lowered his head and smiled at Chu Yuan.

Chu Yuan’s eyes widened, round and bright. Hearing this, he was startled into stillness. His lips parted slightly, his lashes trembling, his expression guileless and endearing.

“Oh my, Yuan-Yuan has been frightened.” Jiang Ni laughed as he leaned askew into Nie Xuxing’s embrace.

Chu Yuan’s face flushed faintly, having been teased thoroughly by them.

Nie Siran said with a smile, “That was merely an expedient measure. I feared you might suffer within Prince Li’s residence. Later, seeing that you lived well and truly cared for Prince Li, I abandoned this plan.”

Chu Yuan met Nie Siran’s gaze. Nie Siran’s expression was open and composed, his eyes sincere. Within those eyes, which often carried a smile, there was care and protection for him, and not the slightest trace of romantic affection.

Chu Yuan quietly let out a breath within his heart.

As evening fell, the steward came to summon them to dine. The group rose and walked toward the dining hall.

Along the way, Nie Chouwen said in a thoughtful tone, “Yuan-Yuan, this old man may be certain that within the court, no one’s handwriting resembles this.”

Chu Yuan seemed to have anticipated this result. Hearing it, he gave a faint smile. “Many thanks, Grandfather. I had not held much hope to begin with.”

Chu Yuan said, “When this person writes, he deliberately conceals the strength of his strokes. Thus, the handwriting is not fluid. It seems he anticipated the letter might fall into His Highness’s hands.”

“When you were in Ping Cheng, did you discover to whom the letter was sent?” Nie Chouwen raised a hand and brushed aside a willow branch that blocked the path.

Chu Yuan walked at his side and replied in a low voice, “Yes. It was sent to the Prefectural Residence. Before returning to the capital, His Highness interrogated Zhang Ze, yet nothing was drawn from him.”

“There is one point that is rather strange. When His Highness asked whether the letter was written by the Liu family, Zhang Ze’s expression was somewhat unusual. He neither admitted it nor denied it.”

Nie Chouwen said, “Either the letter was written by the Liu family and you merely followed the current, or the true owner of the letter is another person, and this person is of great importance to Zhang Ze.”

Chu Yuan recalled the earlier visit of Duke Liu. “The likelihood of it being the Liu family is not great.”

“Then it must be the latter. Have you investigated Zhang Ze’s background?” Nie Siran stepped beside Chu Yuan and asked in a low voice.

Chu Yuan nodded. “His Highness has investigated the background of every person within Zhang Ze’s residence and found nothing of concern.”

“Zhang Ze...” Jiang Ni raised his head to look at Nie Xuxing. “Several years ago, we stayed in Ping Cheng for a period. At that time, the Prefect was Zhang Ze, was he not?”

Nie Xuxing gave a sound of assent. “Have you forgotten? Zhang Ze knew we were in Ping Cheng and even invited us to dine at his residence.”

“Ah, yes. He was very enthusiastic. We could not refuse and went once to his residence.” Jiang Ni added with a sigh, “He spoke much. His wife, however, was very quiet.”

Chu Yuan stopped, his expression composed. “Ah-Die just said that the Prefect’s wife was very quiet?”

“Yes. I recall her health was poor. She had scarcely eaten a few mouthfuls before she withdrew from the table.” After speaking, Jiang Ni turned to Nie Xuxing for confirmation.

Nie Xuxing nodded. “Indeed so.”

In Chu Yuan’s mind, a flash of light suddenly appeared, like lightning splitting the darkness. His eyes widened slightly. “I now understand.”

He turned his head and called, “Xian Shuang.”

Xian Shuang descended at once from the treetop and said respectfully, “Master.”

“Send word to His Highness... no, he has not yet returned. It is better to wait until he returns.”

Xian Shuang paused, then raised a hand and pointed to the snow-wolf private seal at Chu Yuan’s waist. “Master, His Highness’s intelligence network and shadow guards are all at your disposal. Whatever is to be investigated, you may give the order directly.”

Chu Yuan was momentarily stunned. Under the teasing gazes of Jiang Ni and the others, he reached out and grasped the seal at his waist.

“Very well. Immediately dispatch people to investigate the background of Zhang Ze’s first wife.”

Xian Shuang nodded and vanished in an instant.

Chu Yuan exhaled softly.

Jiang Ni asked, “Yuan-Yuan suspects the Prefect’s wife?”

“When His Highness investigated Zhang Ze before, he discovered that Zhang Ze’s first wife had passed away several years ago. Later, when he examined her ancestral hall, he found evidence of crimes Zhang Ze had concealed for many years. Yet we overlooked the deceased first wife and did not investigate her origins.” Chu Yuan explained.

“Enough. Wash your hands and come eat. Ah-Yuan, taste the fish soup and see if it is to your liking.” Seeing them deep in discussion, Nie Chouwen, having washed his hands, called Chu Yuan to sit.

“It is delicious!” Chu Yuan’s eyes lit up at once.

The steward at the side smiled and reminded him, “These are fish caught by the master. Knowing you had come, he specifically had the kitchen stew them.”

Chu Yuan held the bowl and smiled, revealing a row of small white teeth.

Four days later, Lu Ronghuai returned to the capital, dust-covered from travel.

His expression was cold and stern, his brows drawn together. The horse did not pause even at the gates of the Prince’s residence. He rode straight into the palace.

Emperor Hongjia was within the hall of the nun Fuxian, listening to scripture. Upon hearing from a eunuch that Lu Ronghuai had entered the palace, he hurriedly rose to go to Qianzheng Hall.

Yet as he rose, dizziness overcame him, and he nearly fell.

Fu Qing supported him. “Your Majesty, you have only just taken the elixir refined by the Daoist master. Agitation is not advised. You must keep your heart calm and composed, only then will the elixir’s effects manifest to their fullest.”

“Zhen understands.” Emperor Hongjia adjusted his robes and slowly stepped out of the hall.

After he departed, the smile upon Fu Qing’s face vanished at once.

She hastily took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands, then threw it away in disgust. “Old thing. And still you speak of elixirs. Ptui. Eat more of it. It will be better if it kills you.”

Emperor Hongjia arrived at the hall.

“This son pays his respects to Father Emperor.”

“Rise, rise. Well? What did you find?” Emperor Hongjia rushed forward, grasping Lu Ronghuai’s arm and staring at him intently.

Lu Ronghuai lowered his eyes, his thin lips pressed lightly together. “Father Emperor, in the deep mountains of the Northern outskirts, this son discovered this.”

He took out a palm-sized block of iron from within his robes.

Emperor Hongjia’s pupils contracted sharply.

Lu Ronghuai said evenly, “Second Brother hollowed out an entire mountain and forged weapons within. This son has already seized all persons inside. They await Father Emperor’s judgment.”

Emperor Hongjia released his hand weakly.

He stared fixedly at the iron, then suddenly seized it and hurled it fiercely against a pillar. “Beast! To dare forge weapons in secret behind Zhen’s back. Good, good indeed! The Liu family, the Crown Prince, Zhen has not yet died, yet each of you already seeks to rebel!”

Lu Ronghuai did not even blink. Only after Emperor Hongjia had vented his anger did he cup his hands and say, “Father Emperor, please calm yourself. This son will take his leave.”

Emperor Hongjia closed his eyes, then opened them again. With his hands at his waist, he looked at Lu Ronghuai. “Mm. Third Son has worked hard this journey. Return and rest.”

Lu Ronghuai turned and walked out.

He had not seen Chu Yuan for several days. The headache he had not felt for a long time returned. These past nights he had not slept well. At this moment, he wished more than anything to see Chu Yuan at once.

“Wait.” Emperor Hongjia called him back.

Lu Ronghuai halted abruptly, his brow leaping.

Emperor Hongjia stared at his tall and upright back, narrowing his eyes slightly. “The Crown Prince harbors the ambition to forge weapons. You, having fought on the battlefield for many years, how did you come to hand over military authority to Zhen so readily?”

“The realm belongs to Father Emperor. The military authority naturally belongs to Father Emperor as well. There is nothing to be relinquished.”

“You never considered keeping it for yourself?”

“This son only knows how to wage war. Once the wars are fought, the military authority naturally returns to Father Emperor. This son is not like Second Brother, who possesses the wealth to sustain hundreds of thousands of soldiers.”

Emperor Hongjia’s expression eased somewhat. “If you desire it, Zhen may grant you military authority.”

“Let it be. This son now finds it more comfortable to remain at home. Father Emperor, Ah-Yuan is still waiting for this son to return.” The impatience and urging in his words were unmistakable.

Emperor Hongjia waved his hand with a darkened expression. “Go, go. All day long, you think only of your wife.”

Lu Ronghuai seized the opportunity and withdrew.

He left the palace in swift strides, mounted his horse, and urged it forward, racing toward the Prince’s residence.

“Open the gates!”

Lu Ronghuai dismounted and kicked the tightly shut gates of the residence.

The gate servant, hearing the commotion, opened a small side door and peeked out. Upon seeing Lu Ronghuai’s cold and frowning expression, he was startled.

“His Highness has returned!” The servant hurriedly opened the gates wide to welcome him.

Lu Ronghuai paid it no heed. As he untied his wrist guards, he strode swiftly toward Fuju Courtyard.

“Ah-Yuan.” He pushed the door open, the corners of his lips lifting as he looked inside.

The room was empty.

The bedding was neatly folded. The table and couch bore no signs of use.

The entire room was spotless, yet also devoid of any trace of life, cold and silent.

Lu Ronghuai’s heart tightened at once.

He rushed out as though driven mad.

“Where is the Prince Consort?!” He seized a servant who was cleaning and demanded fiercely.

The servant was terrified. Having not seen such a fearsome Prince Li in a long while, he trembled and could not utter a single word.

Lu Ronghuai flung him aside and cursed under his breath. His face black with storm clouds, terrifying to behold.

“Your Highness, Your Highness.” The gate servant ran over, gasping for breath. Lu Ronghuai had walked too quickly, and by the time he reacted, Lu Ronghuai had already vanished.

“The Prince Consort has gone to the Nie Residence. Steward Xian Yu left word for you to go there directly to fetch the Prince Consort.”

Without another word, Lu Ronghuai did not even change his clothes and went straight to the Nie Residence.

Jiang Ni was teaching Chu Yuan a new piece when the steward came running in a panic.

“M-Master, something is amiss. Prince Li has rushed in.”

Chu Yuan’s fingers paused, and the sound of the qin ceased abruptly.

He has returned? Chu Yuan’s eyes brightened as he lifted his head to look at the steward.

The steward wiped his sweat with his sleeve and gave Chu Yuan a strained and helpless smile.

“His Highness has arrived. In the front hall, he nearly came to blows with the young master.”

Jiang Ni said, “For no reason at all, how would they come to blows?”

“His Highness wished to enter the inner courtyard to seek the Prince Consort. The young master barred him. That expression of His Highness... ah, even this servant felt fear upon seeing it.” The steward felt anxious for his own young master.

No sooner had he finished speaking, the sound of rapid footsteps came from outside.

Chu Yuan lifted his eyes and looked toward the entrance of the courtyard, meeting a pair of cold and profound eyes.

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✧ A Word from the Author ✧

Lu dog: I am back. Everything that is mine, I am taking back, every last bit of it!

Yuan-Yuan: …

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